鹿鸣鸣 followed the sound and looked—
Beneath the shroud of a dreamlike sky, an old woman with snow-white hair leaned against a large tree along the road. She was incredibly tall, with a broad chest and back, likely over two meters, and a strangely elongated nose.
Seeing that Lu Mingming and her group were already preparing to pack away their lunchboxes, the old woman slapped her thighs in deep regret.
Perhaps from rushing all the way here, a fine layer of cold sweat had formed on her temples.
The old woman raised her hand, wiping the sweat from her face with her sleeve, and leaned against the tree trunk to rest.
The two cubs secretly observed the elder, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if they had seen her somewhere before.
“Hello…?”
Lu Mingming tentatively greeted her.
From the elder’s words just now, she deduced that she likely wanted to eat the food Lu Mingming had brought.
Hearing Lu Mingming speak, the old woman didn't put on airs and broke into a kind smile.
“Oh, young lady, where did you buy this dish? I could smell the fragrance from the foot of the mountain.”
At this moment, Lu Mingming took it as a casual remark and quickly replied with a hint of embarrassment, “I made it myself. The cubs ate it all up. I have some milk candy and biscuits left. Would you like to try them if you’re hungry?”
With nimble movements, she took two milk candies and half a bag of small biscuits from her bag and offered them.
The small biscuits exuded a rich milky aroma, as if one were immersed in the fluffiest, softest cream from a cake shop, re-capturing the old woman’s attention.
“What is this now?! It smells so good!”
The old woman’s legs trembled as she stood up. Seeing her difficulty moving, Lu Mingming quickly went to support her, replying, “These are milk candies and biscuits I made myself.”
“Never heard of them…”
The old woman murmured dejectedly.
Anyone else might have been offended by such a slightly presumptuous remark, but Lu Mingming didn’t think so.
Since milk candies and biscuits hadn't appeared in the Interstellar Alliance, and her live streams hadn't reached the entire Alliance, it was normal for others not to know about them.
Hearing this, Lu Mingming’s smile bloomed like a flower. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, “Because I developed them myself. If you like them, you can try them.”
“Of course, otherwise I would have come all this way for nothing.”
The old woman muttered with a face full of smiles, all the wrinkles on her face appearing, not holding back at all.
Her hands moved much faster than her feet. She quickly tore open the outer packaging and popped a small biscuit into her mouth.
Before she could even taste the first one, the old woman automatically grabbed another and another small biscuit, chewing with a satisfying crunch.
This batch of biscuits was Lu Mingming’s improved version. She had added a layer of black sesame seeds, making them richer and sweeter.
Even without butter, they were incredibly crisp, with a full milky and eggy flavor. One bite, and they were so fragrant and crumbly that they practically melted in the mouth, crisp to the very last bite.
The old woman’s expression gave no indication of her judgment, but she couldn't stop eating. She didn't say a word, quietly munching on the biscuits the entire time.
Fearing she might choke, Lu Mingming thoughtfully prepared warm water nearby.
By the time the bag of small biscuits was finished, the old woman took the water cup, gulped it down, and let out a contented sigh, praising, “Truly, the younger generation surpasses the old. I haven't tasted anything so delicious in a long time.”
“The Interstellar Alliance is so vast, there must be many delicious things.”
Lu Mingming responded with a touch of modesty.
“It hasn’t been like that for a long time. They have been going against the memories of their ancestors.”
The old woman looked into the distance, uttering a stunning opinion that targeted reality.
Rarely did she encounter a shapeshifter who shared her views. Lu Mingming eagerly awaited her continued explanation, but the old woman changed the subject:
“Would you be willing to come to my school as a teacher? I'll give you the position of vice dean.”
The topic shift was so abrupt that Lu Mingming hadn't fully reacted, her eyes meeting the old woman’s sincere gaze.
However, Lu Mingming wasn't someone easily swayed. She immediately politely refused, “I’m sorry, my actual profession is a parenting zone streamer, and I don’t live in Sal City. I’m just here to participate in a competition…”
“You said you’re participating in a competition?”
The old woman’s eyes flickered, as if she had discovered something interesting.
There was only one live-streaming competition recently held in Sal City, which was almost equivalent to revealing her identity.
The old woman’s smile was warm and gentle, like springtime.
“Alright then, can you tell me your live stream ID? I’ll go and support you.”
“Of course.”
Lu Mingming nodded and unreservedly revealed her live stream account.
After receiving this information, the old woman seemed to genuinely not insist further. She waved her hand and turned to leave.
A sentence tinged with a smile echoed through the mountains.
“Streamer Mingming, I believe we will meet again.”
After this small interlude, Lu Mingming and her group rested for about ten more minutes before heading to the evening party.
They had spent the day sightseeing; in the evening, it was time for performances.
While resting on the optical cable, Lu Mingming had checked Yi Fu’s background on the star net for the evening’s party.
She was shocked by what she found.
Yi Fu was a year younger than her and was currently the most popular celebrity, involved in film, television, and music. Her fans could stretch from the northernmost tip of the Alliance to the southernmost.
This time, the entry tickets were randomly drawn. Not everyone who had purchased park tickets could enter the performance venue. Some would enjoy the meteor shower from the periphery, while others would watch the opera and dance in the performance area.
Unfortunately, none of Lu Mingming’s three tickets were drawn, so she wouldn’t be attending any evening party.
Lu Mingming was initially a little disappointed, but seeing people on entertainment forums who had bought hundreds or thousands of tickets failing to get in made her feel much more balanced.
Their main purpose for the evening was to watch the meteor shower.
As night fell, a bright, clear moon hung in the night sky, and the air seemed to be permeated with a faint pink mist.
Starlight shimmered in the darkness, and the distant dazzling lights, coupled with the dreamlike, neon-like Milky Way, created a splendid and mesmerizing scene.
The opera house’s multicolored lights shone towards the sky. The screams of girls seeing their idol shook the heavens. Even those who hadn’t won the draw persisted at the main entrance, eager to catch a glimpse of Yi Fu.
Nearby, couples who were rarely seen during the day strolled hand in hand, with many indulging in passionate street kisses.
Lu Mingming, therefore, chose a less crowded spot, and with her two cubs, waited for the meteor shower at 8 o'clock.
The night wind was cool, so she prepared a thick plush blanket to cover the little ones.
She had miscalculated, forgetting to bring a tent.
Lu Mingming had been having so much fun that she had completely forgotten.
As for the two cubs, who had been born with silver spoons in their mouths and attended by servants, none of the three remembered this detail.
The cold night wind was truly unbearable, causing Lu Mingming’s skin to prickle with goosebumps.
After entrusting her cubs to a nearby young couple, Lu Mingming cautioned them not to wander off and then hurried to the nearest stall she could find to rent a tent.
She completed the rental process in five minutes and turned back with the tent.
On her way back, there were many more girls, each with exquisite makeup, looking around as if searching for something.
Lu Mingming glanced at them casually and then looked away, eager to return and set up the tent.
However, as Lu Mingming passed by a dim alley, a man’s breathless voice called out to her.
“Hello, can you help me?”
Lu Mingming instinctively turned back to look—it was Yi Fu, who was supposed to be in the opera house.